The Co-operative Education Program combines a student's academic program with integrated work experiences through full-time work terms and regular academic sessions. The work terms are designed to present the students with the opportunity to blend theory and practice and to gain relevant work experience.

Each co-operative work term is between 12 and 16 weeks in length, and the student will be registered in a 3 credit Co-operative Placement course (CS 391, CS 392 or CS 393). These course credits are in addition to regular degree program requirements. Each is graded on a pass/fail basis and this grade is not included in the student's cumulative average. The evaluation is the responsibility of the Departmental Chair and will be based upon the submission of a work term report and a job performance report submitted by the employer. Normal academic regulations apply to the conduct and evaluation of the courses.

Students in a 90-credit program will be required to complete 2 work terms (6 credits). Students in a 120-credit program will be required to complete 3 work terms (9 credits). These credits will be added to the student's program and do not count as computer science courses, computer science electives, or free electives. All work terms must be completed before the student's final academic semester and a student's last semester before graduation cannot be a work term. While every effort will be made to find a suitable placement for all students in the program, no guarantee of placement can be made since the employment process is competitive and subject to market conditions.

Admission to the Co-operative Education Program

Full-time students in the Computer Science Department with a minimum cumulative average of 70% after completing 15 credits (1 semester) are admissible into the Co-op Program provided they submit their resume (curriculum vitae) and a letter of intent for review. Â Admission is limited to full-time students in any Honours or Major program offered in the Computer Science Department.

Please consult the Co-operative Education section on the Bishop's University website for important dates, deadlines and updates.

Tuition and Fees

Each work term placement is a 3-credit course and students will pay tuition based upon their fee paying status (Quebec resident, Canadian out-of-province, International). In addition, an administrative fee of $200 per placement will be charged to help cover the cost of monitoring and evaluating work placement. Payment is to be made through the Business Office.

Work Term Evaluation

Successful completion of the work term is based upon the following:

The receipt of a satisfactory job performance report from the employer, and

The submission of a satisfactory work term report by the student.

The job performance report will be completed by the employer, using guidelines supplied by the Department of Computer Science. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the employer sends the completed evaluation to the Co-op Coordinator on or before the established deadline. Employer evaluations are confidential and are not reported on the student's transcript.